Sugarland's members, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, wrote the song with Bobby Pinson, with whom the duo also co-wrote two of their previous singles, "Want To" and "All I Want to Do".

"Already Gone" is a mid-tempo ballad set in triple meter, mostly accompanied by piano and mandolin, the latter of which is played by Bush.

According to Country Weekly magazine, Bobby Pinson met Nettles and Bush at their hotel in Buffalo, New York in the middle of their 2007 tour.

Although said as "a little more substance" than its predecessor "All I Want to Do", he also thought that more emphasis was placed on constructing an interesting melody than creating a narrative that is anything more than average.

The video starts off with Nettles and Bush in a bed of old, vintage cars with a sunset in the background.